泷 (lóng) — rapids; waterfall

Definition

bound form
rapidswaterfall

Examples

  • 泷。
    Zhè tiáo hé zhōng yǒu yí gè dà lóng.
    There is a big rapid in this river.
  • 泷。
    Zhè ge lóng de shuǐ hěn jí.
    The water of this waterfall is very fast.
  • 泷。
    Gǔ dài shī rén cháng miáo xiě lóng de zhuàng guān.
    Ancient poets often described the magnificence of rapids.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 瀧; 泷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
龍
龍lóng瀧
Same sound today

The traditional form 瀧 pairs 氵, water, with 龍 for the sound; the simplified 泷 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old component.

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